How to Give the Gift of Imagination

By Melanie Hempe

Published: December 4, 2017 04:33 PM

All children are explorers and art provides that necessary world where they can color outside the lines, discover new ideas and allow their imagination to flourish, leaving their unique mark on the world.

Shutterstock photo

We all want happy, healthy kids, right? Then how about giving them gifts this Christmas that will help them achieve that? Spoiler alert: that means forgoing the tech gifts.

At Families Managing Media, we want to encourage you to AIM higher when it comes to gift giving this year. In other words, shop for items that will encourage Attachment to family, promote Imagination and encourage Movement. This week, we’re discussing “imagination.”

Your child should have at least three hobbies that he or she enjoys as much as technology in order to have a balanced, brain-healthy childhood. A hobby is an activity that is set at your own relaxed pace with your own rules and exploration. Hobbies are important because they are educational, teach goal setting and problem solving, develop talents and skills, and get those creative juices flowing!

Some of our favorite gifts that help spark creativity and imagination include:

Music

This is perfect for children of all ages! Studies have shown that music education at an early age stimulates brain pathways for verbal and visual skills. Gifts can include:

A musical instrument

Music Lessons (really!)

iPod Nano (does not allow apps)

Music gift card

Portable speakers

Headphones

Karaoke machine

Art

All children are explorers and art provides that necessary world where they can color outside the lines, discover new ideas and allow their imagination to flourish, leaving their unique mark on the world. Some gift ideas to get you started include:

Art supplies (i.e. an “art bucket” with a large assortment)

Art lessons (check out White Rock Studio in Matthews)

Sketch books and pencils

Coloring books

Canvas, Paints, Brushes

Paper of all types

Modeling clay, Play-doh

Stickers

Pipe cleaners

Crayons

Tape

Markers

Glitter

Glue

Sidewalk chalk

Origami

Weaving loom

Shrinky Dinks

Spirograph

Stamp set

Sewing machine

Yarn and knitting needles

Calligraphy set

Card making and scrapbooking supplies

Jewelry kits

Sewing projects

String art

Reading and Writing

The love of reading is a priceless gift you can give your children. They will never be lonely with a good book and will learn to use their imagination as they immerse themselves in faraway places. They will also learn to feel empathy as they connect with the characters in the book. If you think your children don’t like reading, they may just need some help getting started. It helps to first find a book, series or topic that he or she is interested in. Gift ideas include:

Exploring, Creating and Collecting

Think of things your child can create, collect or do using his own imagination and ideas. These hobbies can provide a lifetime of enjoyment, friends and recreation for your child, but the key is to start young with learning to love a hobby that will last. Gift ideas can include:

Science experiment kit

Magic set

Legos

Snap circuits

Train set

Model airplanes

Rocketry

Outdoor sandbox

Cooking supplies

Easy Bake Oven

Ice cream maker

Dress-up clothing

Baseball cards and binder

Coin collecting, stamp collecting

Rocks and gems

DSL digital camera

This Christmas, give your child a gift that will teach them more about themselves than any electronic device or video game can. Help spark their imagination and fall in love with a hobby that could become a lifelong passion.

Stay tuned to learn more about “movement” gifts. And, click through the archives to see our previous post where we discussed “attachment” gifts.

If you need help reducing the screen conflicts in your home, please reach out to us we can help. We have tips and solutions for fixing screen problems and reclaiming childhood.familiesmanagingmedia.com. Also, be sure to sign up for our next Screen Solutions Workshop, Jan. 25, 2017.

On March 2 we celebrate Read Across America Day, a national celebration of books, literacy and reading that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on the birthday of the legendary children's author, Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss’s books continue to teach, amuse, and inspire young readers with their fanciful rhymes and illustrations.

About This Blog

Balancing technology with childhood

About Melanie Hempe

Melanie Hempe is the founder of Families Managing Media. She has coached hundreds of families on the effects of screen media use and has helped them achieve a healthier, more balanced media life. With a nursing degree from Emory University, Melanie draws upon her medical background to demystify the questions of why technology has such a strong grip on our kids and why it is replacing normal childhood activities. She offers busy parents easy-to-follow scientific information and practical solutions for children of all ages, as she stresses the importance of REAL life connections in a digital world.

Melanie and her husband, Chris are raising four children in a media balanced home – and have successfully replaced video games with sports, music, art and good manners and they have also done the impossible: they have kept social media and smartphones from controlling their kids.